Pics from today

Well, here are the pictures; I am going to go ahead and get these up, and then when Rowan goes to bed, I will do my blog...

Rowan in the dog house is the first one; I did NOT put him in here, he did it on his own!!!

I need to win the lottery!

So, I opened up my closet today, in hopes to find something new peeking out at me I guess? When I came home last June, Rowan was 8 weeks old. Needless to say, I had not lost much of the baby weight from pregnancy. I brought home ONE suitcase for both Rowan and me, anticipating we would return August 31st as planned. I think I brought, MAYBE, three pairs of pants and MAYBE five shirts for myself.
Well, since then, I have successfully lost all the pregnancy weight, and then a little more. I am fully intending to lose another 10-20 lbs. by August when Jamie comes home...PRAYERS PLEASE because I have not been so good about eating right and going to the gym regularly since Jamie's trip home last month...I think I have lost 1.5 lbs since then. Well, I HAVE NO FREAKIN' CLOTHES TO WEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am at a loss. I need to go shopping DESPERATELY, but I just cannot get myself to go. Shopping for myself seems so selfish now, there are just so many other things that seem so much more important! I am broke until the 1st, so there will be no shopping going on until then anyway. It's frustrating though; I have worked so freakin' hard to lose weight, and for what? So I can look like a rag-doll in my old clothes? This sucks...perhaps I should start stuffing my face with twinkies, then my old clothes will fit again and I won't look like a damn charity case!
Furthermore, Rowan needs some spring and summer clothes. I truly think I could spend hundreds of dollars for our wardrobes this season, and that makes my stomach hurt just to think about it!!! His clothes will definently come first, which will leave me waiting until later...by the time I have the money to go shopping for myself, well...it will probably be winter again! LOL ARGH!!!!!

Wednesday, April 23rd

Today is off to a MUCH better start. I woke up earlier than Rowan (normally I do, but lately I haven't...have had a cold, 'nuf said!), and I got showered before I woke him up. This is always a good way to start the day, I feel like things are accomplished before I am chasing my little man around.
Rowan had his breakfast, cheerios and bananas AGAIN! Hey, he likes it and it is easy...but I do know that I need to start making better morning food for him. I am not a breakfast eater, though I know I SHOULD BE, so I prefer fast in the mornings!
I am pretty much ready, just have to get dressed, and Rowan is ready, also not dressed. So, we are about to head out for the day. We have an appointment at 2:30, and I have booty ballet tonight at 6. Other than that, we are just winging it today and going to have fun...I HOPE!!!

Tomorrow will be BUSY...looking at houses alllll day, and I hope to pick one of them to be moved into by next month! WISH ME LUCK, and say LOTS of PRAYERS for us. It is a big step for us...

Still awake!

Well, it is approaching 11 PM, and I am still awake! Rowan is refusing to go to bed, so here we are...I have exhausted all activities, including: reading, blocks, car ride, piano, television, music, dancing and reading...still no luck! Please Lord, I need some dang sleep!!!

So, my one year old has a new trick...it's called "pinch Mom and RUN"...that's right, which lets me know that he understands it is not nice to pinch! I literally have bruises all up the back of my left arm from him pinching me while I am carrying and/or holding him. Tonight, it is pinch and run... Anyone have any solutions for toddler pinching? PLEASE HELP!!! Thanks!

Tuesday, April 22nd

I am stressed. I am having "one of those days" today. I woke up, and first thing someone said to me, I was pissed...I knew it would be a bad day. Why is it that someone else's mood can dictate how I will feel for the rest of MY day? Why do I allow people to have that kind of power over my life? This is really something I need to work on.

Rowan has been super good today, though he hasn't really eaten much. We had a busy and productive day, and I am getting an idea of what "errands" are like with a toddler in tow. I had to run to the grocery store, which ended up taking me about 45 minutes (normally a task completed in 15-20, b/c of my LISTS!). I also needed to return those movies that were two days late, get gas, and go to the store to look for shoes and some other items. Well, it all went pretty well, except for Rowan's little tantrums over my keys and rice...he wanted to play with the box of rice in the check-out line...that could have been a bad situation!

We got home and AI was on, so I flipped it to FOX and hit record, knowing that I would NEVER be able to sit down while Rowan was still awake. I headed upstairs with all the groceries, put Rowan on the deck with the baby gate up, put the groceries away, put some nuggets and tator tots in the the oven and headed outside to play with Rowan. I then had a MARVELOUS idea...I brought the booster seat downstairs to feed Ro his dinner, and I got a minute to sit down and watch AI! BRILLIANT, I know...you all should try this!
The dogs are crazy today and haven't stopped barking long enough to let my ears have a rest, and Rowan has been a crap apple all evening! He fell over and busted his lip...poor baby, that is never fun. I also had to switch the laundry to the dryer and get Rowan's bed made for tonight, all the while Rowan is running around. It has been a LONG, EXHAUSTING day, and I am wondering how I will make it another fifteen months as a single parent...

I am hoping that Rowan will go to bed soon, as it is nearly 9PM and I have yet to get a single meal eaten today...I'm hungry, I am tired...is the day over yet???

4-21-08

So, I know that I say this a lot, but my son amazes me...he really does! Tonight, I realized just how much he is growing up, and JUST how much Jamie is missing. It's a happy-sad, as I like to call it. I am so happy to see him evolving into a toddler, yet sad that Jamie isn't here to experience it with me.

Rowan and I have been playing in the family room tonight, and he just is so interested in play-time with Mommy all the sudden! It is so neat, and I am sucking up all the time I can get! He looked like a rag-child today, wearing a size 3T t-shirt and mis-matched shorts...(my aunt dressed him; I am NOT to blame for this!) Anyway, he was filthy, so I took his clothes off of him and let him run around nakey for a bit. I was putting the shirt over his face, and he LOVED IT! A new game I must take not of for later use! He put his hands up over his face, laughed, threw his head back, and ran around like a silly man until he pulled the shirt off...or fell, whichever came first! LOL

Then, I thought we needed to try something new...I held one end of the shirt, he held the other, and we ran around the family room. It was a TON of fun, and exhausting too! He just wanted to keep going, but hey...I'm getting up there in years, I can't keep up with a toddler's energy...won't even lie! LOL

Okay, so other than that, we had a fabulous day. Rowan got to play outside pretty much ALL day, which he LOVES!!! :-) I decided to take Rowan for a short walk to the circle, but ended up going the long haul...which is several miles...okay, let me explain. Rowan has a plastic car that he LOVES; it has a handle, and I push him in it. Normally, the car is reserved for short trips, as it gets loud and bumpy on the gravel road around the neighborhood. Well, I was wearing my dress clothes for the day, and some flip flops I threw on on the way out the door. Rowan had no shoes on, looked like a rag-child, his sunblock was worn off, and I smelled a poopy...short walk, no big deal, 5 minutes tops! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO I decided to just keep going, and going, and going. By the time we got home, my feet were covered in dirt and dust, my hands were numb from the vibration of the gravel, and Rowan had poopy up his back! It was a mess, but it was fun nonetheless!

Now Rowan is playing on the floor...and I am so ready for bed! I still have the movies I rented the other night, and it looks like we are waiting until tomorrow! That's it folks, I am going to enjoy the night with Rowan!

NOTE: Yes, I do realize that these pictures are AWFUL! I look like poo; I have no make-up on AT ALL! My hubby is used to seeing me look like this, so go easy on me...k? After all, I AM posting these for HIM! Thanks for your kindness! LOL :-) Oh, and the one of me with a sad face, yeah...Rowan had just beaten me up and pulled my hair!

4-20 pictures

Busy Sunday! 4-20-08

Oh boy, we had a busy, busy, busy day today!!! We woke up early, anxious for the sunshine! No sunshine this morning, but we did get some sun this afternoon! Rowan and I had breakfast, and I actually got him to take a nap at 10:30 AM!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAMAZING!!! While he was asleep, I got in the shower and got ready for the day. By 11:45, he was awake, I got him ready and we were out the door by 12:30; Auburn bound, for my friend, Hope's, little girl's birthday party - she turned SEVEN, unreal!!! Well, needless to say, Rowan was pretty much a lone ranger...all girls, Hannah Montana themed party...LOL

I realized today that I really need to get Rowan into a play group of some sort. He is very much a loner when he is around other kids, and I really want him to be a sociable, likable boy. I am going to look into groups where parents DO NOT attend because I think it would be better for him...though I will hate every single second of it...

Anyway, we played hard and then went to Springfield to stock up on "big boy" eating gadgets from Babies R Us; I found a few things that I thought would work: a suction cup sectioned warming plate, some plastic silverware and a few different types of sippy cups...still trying to get him OFF the baba! Not an easy task...nope! I ended up helping some expecting couple with their gift registry, which was rather fun! I told them all about bibs, bedding and bottles...lol

By the time we left, Rowan and I were STARVING, it was somewhere around 5:00 PM. I made a quick order to Cracker Barrel, went to pick it up, drove around looking at houses, went to find Rowan some new shoes (no luck!), came home...we ate! MMMMM!!!!!

Rowan and I went outside for a little while, and we played some more. YIPPEE! He has so much fun being outside, and I enjoy it as well. Then, I realized we were out of juice and Pepsi, two must-haves in our house! GRRRRRRRRRRR, back to the store we went.

Okay, Rowan got a bath, and managed to cover me in water a TON!!! I was soaked, but we had fun...or...at least, HE did! LOL
Rowan is now down for the night, and yep...I am finally getting that glass of wine I have been LONGING for! Hehehe! Here are some super cute pictures from today...as always, tell me how freakin' CUTE my bug is! Loves!!!

The Rules for 7 Things:1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.My Seven Things:



I was tagged by my sister, Jamie Kaufmann, milkallergymom.blogspot.com. I am not sure who to tag since I am new here and don't know anyone, but I am going to go ahead and do my seven facts anyway...then I will figure out who to tag! So here they are:



My Seven Facts:



1. I hate math, but I love numbers. I count EVERYTHING! It is an obsession that I just cannot shake. I will count the letters in a sentence, the tiles on the wall, just about anything and everything. My husband always knows when I am doing it b/c I use my fingers and tap them on him. It's annoying, and I hate it, but I can't stop!!!



2. I am an obsessive list maker. Everyday starts with a list for me. I have done this ever since I can remember. Not only do I make lists for everything, but I am rather lost without them. I have been known to make lists for my lists...it's an illness.......



3. I have a very difficult time sleeping; sleeping pills used to be my best-friend, in the pre-baby days. It takes me hours to go to sleep, and I rarely sleep for more than 2 hours in a row. I cannot recall the last time I slept a full eight hours straight; when I do, my husband and I celebrate!!! I thought this would come in handy with a newborn, but it really didn't help matters...lol



4. I am a leader by nature. I get frustrated when I am in situations where I am not in charge. In retail, I was in management, in the classroom, I teach...this is just my way of doing things. I have never found myself in a situation that I didn't step up and lead. I get frustrated when someone else is leading b/c I see the ways it "could go better, be more productive" etc.
The leadership does not carry over into my personal life, however. I very much prefer for my husband to be the "head of the household". It is a nice opportunity for me to let someone else take over; I just have to have someone I trust to do things, do them the way that I would (which he does for the most part), and know that all will not fail if I am not in charge...lol

I guess this is why military life works for us. When he is away, I step right up and become the head of the household, but when he returns, I happily hand over the reigns to him!!! :-)



5. I love bleach. I think this is another one to do with my OCD! I learned in my Women's Health class at UIS that bleach is the only known thing that can kill the AIDS virus, and after that, I decided if it was THAT good, it should kill everything! So, I use bleach to clean EVERYTHING!!! It gives me headaches, and has made me pass out before, but I sure do feel clean afterwards! LOL I also use a toothbrush to clean just about everything. Mopping is not done until I get on my hands and knees with a toothbrush! My kitchen and bathrooms must be clean pretty much at all times; I hate dishes to wait overnight, drives me bananas! I absolutely despise having bubbles left in the sink after the dishwater drains, so I stand there and push all the soap down the drain before I dry out the sink. I won't drink tea if it is over 24 hours old, and all beverages must be served with ice, out of CLEANED ice trays...
I am also a little obsessive about washing my hands; I once counted, and I washed my hands over fifty times in one 24 hour period. Sick, eh? I carry around hand sanitizer everywhere I go...I brush my teeth at least 4 times a day...okay, so that is my OCD...thank you very much, I do not take meds! LOL



6. I am terrified of the ocean. I have never been in the ocean, and I am sure I never will...by choice! I do not like that I cannot see the bottom. I am a product of the JAWS generation!!!!! Anything that can eat me, I am not a fan. I am absolutely terrified of sharks, crocks, alligators, whales, etc. They are mean and viscious! NO THANK YOU!!!



7. I have not eaten red meat since I was 12. I had food poisoning one too many times, and quit eating it. It isn't that I am a tree-hugger or anything like that, I just get sick thinking about eating meat. I do eat chicken, fish and turkey, and I am trying to ease my way back into eating meat, but I truly never see myself eating a steak or a hamburger EVER again!!! YUCKY

Our wild and crazy Saturday!

Today was a wonderful day!!! Rowan and I had breakfast, and then I headed to the gym with Melissa G. I rushed home, fed my munchkin some lunch and put him down for a nap. Di watched him while I ran to Virginia with Autumn to check out the place we are having her shower at this weekend. I had a nice, quiet afternoon with the girls, then headed back to be home when Rowan woke up from his nap, which proved to be shorter than usual! We had a quick bite to eat, then headed out again. We stopped to get a couple of movies, but Juno wasn't in...total bummer! We went to visit Autumn for a while, until Rowan got fussy and tired, then hit DQ and came home. Rowan ate his first hamburger, which he didn't care too much for, but I was good and didn't eat any DQ! Yay me!!!

Rowan and I relaxed for the evening, played hard though!!! :-) I watched the movie, Dan in Real Life, which was pretty good though predictable. I can't believe I actually got to watch it!!! Of course I had to pause it about 50 times, but for good reason, so no complaints here!!! Rowan just went to bed, and I am going to spoil myself with a hot, relaxing bubble bath and some champagne!!! YIPPEEE
Here are some pics from our evening at home together...truly, the BEST Saturday night a Mommy could ever ask for!

ON SECOND THOUGHT: I think I am just going to call it a night and forget the bath and bubbly...